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What is the Maracana Hall of Fame? All the facts and details here
Helix Odhiambo
March 12, 2024 at 11:37 AM
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The Maracana stadium is one of the most iconic football fields that has hosted historic games. Situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the facility officially opened in 1950. It is home to the Maracana Hall of Fame, honouring the best and most influential footballers ever.
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Why is Maracana Stadium famous? The venue is a symbol of Brazil's culture and the largest stadium in the country. It attracts thousands of fans and has become a popular tourist attraction because of its unique design and historical background.
What is the Maracana Hall of Fame?
The Maracana Hall of Fame is a unique honour recognising the most outstanding footballers who have left a mark in the sport. The selected players leave their footprints in the stadium's museum as a tribute to their legendary status. Brazilian icon Pele was the first inductee, while Lionel Messi of Argentina is the latest member.
Maracana Hall of Fame list
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Brazilian players dominate the Hall of Fame list as host nation. Over 100 players, mainly retired professionals who won the FIFA World Cup and led their clubs to multiple titles, are on the list. Here is a breakdown of the legendary names in the Maracana Stadium Hall of Fame and their countries.
Country | Maracana Hall of Fame players |
Brazil | Pele, Garrincha, Rivelino, Ronaldo, Garrincha, Jairzinho, Romario, Bebeto, Kaka, Neymar, Marta |
Argentina | Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi |
Chile | Elias Figueroa |
Serbia | Dejan Petkovic |
France | Michael Platini, Zinedine Zidane |
Portugal | Eusebio |
England | Bobby Charlton |
Uruguay | Sebastian Abreu |
Germany | Franz Beckenbauer |
Six times women's best payer of the year, Marta Vieira da Silva became the first woman to leave her footprint in the stadium's museum in 2018. Marta is the all-time top FIFA Women's World Cup scorer. She won silver medals at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
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Former Barcelona and PSG star Neymar entered the Maracana Walk of Fame in 2021. The talented forward conquered the 2013 Confederations Cup and the Rio 2016 Olympics at the iconic venue.
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Is Baptista in the Hall of Fame?
Brazilian legend Julio Baptista had a fantastic career as an attacking midfielder, playing for multiple clubs across Europe, South America, and the MLS. However, he is not in the Maracana Stadium Hall of Fame.
Is Pele in the Hall of Fame?
The Brazilian icon is the pioneer of the award and arguably the greatest footballer in history. Pele scored over 1000 goals in over 1000 games and won three World Cup titles. He played for Santos, New York Cosmos, and the Brazilian national team.
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Did Pele play at Maracanã stadium? The legendary footballer played several games in the venue. He scored his 1,000th goal there in 1969 for Santos against Vasco da Gama. Rio de Janeiro state legislature voted in March 2021 to rename the stadium after Pele. The football legend died in December 2022.
Is Lionel Messi in the Hall of Fame?
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The former Barcelona icon is the latest player to leave his mark in the Maracana Stadium in December 2021. Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup. He won nearly everything with Barcelona and starred for PSG and Inter Miami.
Who owns Maracana Stadium?
The stadium, which opened in 1950, is owned by the Rio de Janeiro government. It is popularly known as the Estadio Jornalista Mario Filho, named after a former Pernambuco-based journalist who supported its construction. Mario Filho died in 1966.
Is Maracana stadium the biggest in the world?
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The Brazilian stadium ranks 48th among the largest sports stadiums on earth, with a capacity of 78,838. Maracana had over 100,000 capacity before undergoing renovations that reduced its numbers.
What club plays in Maracana?
The iconic venue is home to Flamengo and Fluminense, in Brazil's top-tier league, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. It has hosted several games, including the 2014 World Cup and 2021 Copa America finals.
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What are some fun facts about Maracana Stadium?
Construction of the stadium began in August 1948 and was completed in two years. It opened on 16 June 1950 with a friendly between players from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Here are some facts about Maracana Stadium.
How much did the Maracana stadium cost?
The Brazilian venue cost around $629 million to construct, making it one of the most expensive football stadiums. It was built as the flagship venue for the 1950 World Cup.
Maracana's attendance record
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According to the Guinness World Records, the largest attendance in the stadium was 173,850 during the 1950 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay. It is also the highest attendance ever at a football match.
Hosted legendary musicians
The facility has also hosted numerous iconic music concerts. Legendary artists such as Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Paul McCartney, and The Rolling Stones have all performed memorable shows at the stadium.
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Iconic architecture
The stadium has a unique oval-shaped design, imposing concrete structure, and roof. The modern architecture has attracted tourists from across the globe.
Hosted two World Cup finals
Maracana has hosted two World Cup finals twice (1950 and 2014), the most alongside Mexico's Estadio Azteca. The Flamengo and Fluminense home ground is expected to host the finals for the third time in 2026.
Hosting the Olympics
Maracana became the first stadium to have hosted the FIFA World Cup final and the Olympic Games. It hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Games and football events.
Final words
Being incorporated into the Maracana Hall of Fame is among the most iconic football honours, recognising legendary footballers for their achievements and contributions to the sport. The stadium has a rich history in Brazilian football and culture. Many players dream of playing in the venue and joining the Hall of Fame list.
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